Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: An Overview

The ABC's of ADHD

It is natural for young children to be easily distracted, have trouble listening, and be unable to sit still. We expect these behaviors to improve gradually as children get older, but some children seem to have more problems developing age-appropriate attention skills and behavior control. You may have heard of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, as it is commonly known, and wondered if your child has it. The name ADHD also includes attention disorders that are not associated with much hyperactivity (about 1/3 of children with ADHD are not hyperactive). Some people refer to this as ADD, but the term ADHD now includes all types of attention problems. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ADHD is one of the most common developmental problems and is estimated to affect from 4% to 12% of children and adolescents. Boys are about 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. ADHD is a chronic problem that usually lasts through adolescence, and is often a lifelong condition. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, the good news is that there are very effective treatments and many ways that you can help your child to function better while living with ADHD.

ADHD and your child

Things to look out for. The three main characteristics of ADHD are inattention, impulsivity, and often (but not always) hyperactivity. All three are not necessarily evident every child with ADHD. Some children with ADHD are inattentive, disorganized, and impulsive but are not hyperactive. If your child has a hard time paying attention, is easily distracted, is disorganized, puts things off, interrupts, talks a lot, has trouble being patient, is fidgety, or cannot stay still or seated, and these signs have been causing problems in at least two settings (at home, in school, during sports or other activities, for example) and if the problem has been evident for at least six months, you may want to get her evaluated.

Things you should know. ADHD is a medical disorder and does not just appear because your child is lazy, unmotivated, or not trying hard enough. In fact, many studies have shown that the brains of children and adults with ADHD are different from other brains. They show less activity in the parts of the brain that control attention, judgment, organization, impulse control, and activity level. This makes it difficult for your child to control his attention and behavior, and may interfere with his social and educational functioning. A diagnosis of ADHD does not mean that your child is of below-average intelligence. Very bright children can have ADHD. While there is no cure at this time for ADHD, thee are excellent treatments available, and there are also many ways for parents to help children with ADHD at home. Approximately 2/3 of children with ADHD also have a learning disability, problems with excessive worrying or fearfulness, moodiness, irritability or mood swings, oppositional behavior, or muscle twitches. If your child has both ADHD and another problem, it is important that both conditions are identified and that you learn about the options for treating each appropriately.